Confused

[G. Leonard]

I'm confused about how to start the program, or maybe it just didn't
install correctly.

I've created my first translation memory database as the Quick Start
Instructions advice.

Next I'm supposed to open the document for translation in MS Word and,
with the insertion point at the start of the first word or sentence I
want to translate, press Ctrl-Spacebar.

But nothing happens when I do that. I'm working with Word 97 -- is it
too old? Or am I supposed to open the document in Snowball?

TIA for any assistance!

[Erich]

When you press Ctrl+Spacebar, the Snowball translation window should
pop up. There might be a problem with Word 97, as we've only tested
Snowball back to Word 2000, but you might try closing and reopening
both Snowball and Word, or possibly even rebooting, before you give up
hope. Do you have access to a later version of Word?

I doubt you're running Vista if you are using Word 97, but some Vista
users have to use the "Open" command from the Snowball main window to
open their Word files, as Snowball may not always be able to find
running Word windows under Vista.

Please let me know if none of these suggestions help and I'll look
into it some more.

[G. Leonard]

The translation window does not pop up when I press Ctrl+Spacebar.

I have closed everything and rebooted, but it still does not pop up.

I have Word 2000 -- I think you can only install it a set number of
times, which is why I'm still using Word 97! But I may still have one
installation left with Word 2000 -- I'll look for the disk and give
that a try.

And you are correct, I'm still using XP.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Grace

> > TIA for any assistance!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Erich]

All right, I can also confirm that Snowball definitely _won't_ work
with Word '97, and please be forewarned that the last time we tested
Snowball with Word 2000 was back in 2007! Please let me know how it
goes.

[G. Leonard]

Thanks, Erich,

I think I'll just have to do without for now. I'm happy with Word 97,
and most of my work comes in on .pdf or by fax. And since I work
mostly in patents, there's not a tremendous amount of repetition from
document to document. I will probably give it another try when this
computer dies and I have to replace it. Hoping to replace it with a
Mac -- do you have an estimated delivery date for the Mac version of
Snowball?

Grace

> > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Erich]

I can understand your reluctance to change from something that works,
though I must say the current commercial ocr programs do an amazing
job on pdfs and faxes. It seems a lot of translators are getting
trapped in "too busy to sharpen my tools" mode these days.

A major advantage of Snowball is the benefit that you get already in
your current document, making it useful even for one-off translations.
We still don't have a projected completion date for the Mac version,
but you're on the notification list!

Meanwhile something not to be overlooked is that for less than the
price of some other TMs, you can get Snowball _plus_ a decent Windows
desktop or laptop computer. :)